The tension between the government's rule that council meetings should be held in person and continuing advice to self-isolate and the NHS Covid-19 app 'pingdemic' were thrown into relief at Euclid Street.

While members of the council-led health and wellbeing board took their socially-distanced seats in the council chamber, two senior members; Swindon Borough Council's strategic director of adult social services and David Freeman the chief executive officer of the Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire clinical commissioning group were unable to attend the meeting in person having been told to self-isolate.

Both were present at the meeting, but only through the medium of the laptop of council chief executive Susie Kemp.

Until early May local authorities were able to conduct meetings virtually using remote technology. The law permitting that was allowed to laps by the government and meetings must now be held in person. Swindon council is to look at webcasting its meetings to allow in-person and remote attendance.